English Folk-Carols/Wassail Song

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Gloucestershire Wassail.

XXI.WASSAIL SONG.

WASSAIL SONG.

1Wassail, wassail, all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree,
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee,
Drink to thee, drink to thee,
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

2Here is to Cherry^[1] and to his right cheek,
Pray God send my master a good piece of beef,
And a good piece of beef that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
Drink to thee, drink to thee,
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

3Here is to Cherry and to his right eye,
Pray God send my master a good Christmas pie,
And a good Christmas pie that may we all see;
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
Drink to thee, drink to thee,
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

4Here is to Cherry and to his right arm,
May God send my master a good crop of corn,
And a good crop of corn that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
Drink to thee, drink to thee,
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

5Here is to Cherry and to his left ear,
Pray God send my master a barrel of beer,
And a barrel of beer that may we all see;
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.
Drink to thee, drink to thee,
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

6Here's to our cow and to her long tail
Pray God send our master he never may fail
A bowl of strong beer; I pray you draw near,
And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear.
We'll drink to thee, drink to thee,
And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear.

7Come, butler, come fill us a bowl of the best,
Then I hope that your soul in heaven may rest;
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small,
Then down fall butler, bowl and all!
We'll drink to thee, drink to thee.
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

8Where is the maid with the lily white smock,
That do trip to the door and draw back the lock?
O let us all in and seek how you do,
Saying: Nan, if you will, we will welcome you too,
We'll drink to thee, drink to thee.
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

1. The name of a favourite horse.